Archers lose steam, hand Philippines 2nd bronze

KUALA LUMPUR – Archer Paul Marton dela Cruz, who delivered the country’s first bronze medal in the 29th Southeast Asian Games, claimed another bronze as he joined forces with Earl Yap and Joseph Benjamin Vicencio in the men’s team compound event.

Third-placer in the individual play, dela Cruz teamed up with Yap and Vicencio to beat their rivals from Vietnam, 233-230, for the bronze.

The archers’ feat hiked Team Phl’s overall medal haul to one silver and two bronzes for sixth overall in the early stretch of the two-week regional meet.

Sepak takraw bets accounted for the Phl’s silver in chinlone event 3 Wednesday. They failed to sustain the form in yesterday’s chinlone event 4, though, finishing outside the podium at fifth with 76 points.

The country also kissed its golden bid goodbye in men’s water polo as the Filipinos fell to holder Singapore, 5-7, over at the National Aquatic Center. It was the Nationals’ second loss in three matches in the five-team, single round robin tourney, ousting them in the title race.

The troika of dela Cruz, Yap and Vicencio dumped Myanmar, 236-214, to advance to the semis against Singapore, a 226-225 winner over Indonesia.

But the Pinoy archers lost their touch and bowed to the Singaporeans, 227-233, to find themselves relegated to the battle for bronze against the Vietnamese.

“Medyo kinabahan yung mga bata natin (Our archers lost their nerves),” said coach Clint Sayo of the sudden slide of his wards. “Nerves play a lot in this sport and it happens to the best of them.”

In the distaff side, two-time SEAG gold medalist Amaya Paz-Cojuangco continued to struggle as she and teammates Abigail Tindugan and Jennifer Chan got the boot in the quarterfinals via a 215-222 loss to Thailand.